Rafflesia - the Biggest Flower

Photo Information

Copyright: James Parker (Jamesp) (9184)

Genre: Plants

Medium: Color

Date Taken: 2001-03

Categories: Flowers

Camera: Canon EOS 1vHS, Canon 24-70 mm f 2,8 L-USM

Photo Version: Original Version

Date Submitted: 2007-02-24 11:12

I have decided to post a flower today.

The Rafflesia is the world's biggest flower - some specimens are over a meter in diameter (this one was about 90cm). They are found in peninsula Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the southern Philippines in rainforest habitat.

The flowers take about 10 months to develop from the woody, parasitic vine. The buds swell until they reach the size of a large cabbage or football and then open - but only last for 3 days. The flowers give off the smell of rotting meat to attract the flies which pollinate them.

There are 17 species of Rafflesia - this is one of the biggest - Keithii. The name Rafflesia come from Sir Stamford Raffles who gave his name to them and to the Raffles Hotel in Singapore.

There is no flowering season - you just have to be lucky - I was - there were two in flower on my visit and they were both quite close to the park HQ.

This is a scanned slide. As usual I didn't use a tripod (I am really bad about that) and I do not think I used a flash.

Sarawak, Gunung Gading National Park